Customer Reviews

Best of Doo Wop Ballads

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"The Best of Doo-Wop Ballads" is a collection of some of the best "sounds" of the beginning of Rock n Roll. This CD brings back memories of first love and Friday Nighters in the school gym. Of the awkward moments of holding a young girl in your arms, as you tried your best to dance with all of the "cool" you could stir. Some of these groups I saw at El Monte Legion Stadium, you remember "Be There Are Be Square". Songs such as: Oh What A Night, Daddys Home, Earth Angel, Sincerely, Goodnight Sweetheart, Goodnight and In The Still Of The Night all bring back a flood of great memories. Now I observe my own teenage children and I hear the music of their generation. I can not help but wonder, if the songs they listen to will one day mean as much, as these songs do in the "juke Box" in my mind. This CD reflects the original sound of street corner Doo-Wop. I fell in love with this music for two reasons: The Har! mony and the Saxophone solo's in the songs. The group Crosby, Still's and Nash obtained the harmony that became the trade mark of early rock n roll. The group Men To Boys also has the great harmonic sound of these legendary groups. This is a sound that is at the heart of rock n roll. This Cd is a Five Star track of music. Enjoy it as I do. Jerry Poss

I absolutely love doo wop music. There was no room for error. All the singers--the bass, the baritone, the tenors--had to have it together. Perfect for playing on those romantic nights. I was pleased to find that this includes "A Thousand Miles Away", and the answer song, "Daddy's Home", both doo wop classics. Great tunes: "Teardrops", "Since I Don't Have You", "16 Candles", "My True Story", and all the rest.

Doo Wop is now an extinct subgenre of rock 'n' roll, but its influence still lives on. Since Doo Wop was, lke all 50s rock 'n' roll, a singles genre, its hard to find a good album to help you get into the genre. Rhino's two volumes from 1989 are the perfect answer (unless you have enough money to pick up the Doo Wop box). Every song here is a certified classic, and this is a great way to have those great oldies in your collection. There are a few songs that stand out to most listeners. "In the Still of the Night" contains harmonies that could put any one of these modern R&B artists to shame. "My True Story" is almost uptempo with its "cry, cry, cry" chorus. "Earth Angel" is possibly the most popular oldie song ever made. Its not my favorite, but it certainly was groundbreaking in the Doo Wop genre. "Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight" is the perfect way to close out the album. This is beautiful music that should be in every collection.

This is the first doo wop CD I've heard that includes the songs I remember listing to when they weren't oldies. It is nice to hear them with out radio personality Jerry Blavat interupting. Buy it, this CD is a home run.

This is a Classic Disc.Doo Wop is a Lost Art.cuz Most Artists today don't have any harmony.the Groups don't have Solid Pipes Like you Hear here.The Flamingos Classic I Only Have Eyes For You is a Timeless Classic.Oh What A Nite By The Dells is a Gem.These Voices are The Real Deal.

The eighteen songs on this compilation date from a simpler time, the years 1954 -- 1961. Most people who will be attacted to this CD will remember these songs from when they were young. These are songs of youthful love, passion, and rejection. They come from a time when young people were, if more sexually frustrated and restrained, also more innocent. Hearing these songs brought back a time that is happy in memory, if less so in reality. Everyone grew older.

Doo-wop flourished in the 1950's -- early 60s as one form of rock or rhythm and blues. It was sung by groups of 3-5 young people. It was sung on street corners a capella in large cities, but the recorded songs generally featured extensive accompaniment with piano, guitars, strings, and sax. The harmony is close and has an unlikely parallel in barbershop quartet singing. Lyrics are important in these songs, and it is rare that the words cannot be understood. I doubt if anyone involved with recording, producing or marketing these recordings at the time had any inkling that the songs would be remembered for years after their release. Their artlessnes and lack of pretension has helped keep the songs alive in CDs. on radio, and in live nostalgia shows.

Doo wop songs were sometimes uptempo with an insistent rock beat and sometimes slow, crooning ballads. This CD includes only songs of the latter variety. Their are many compilations of this music available of varying lengths, completeness, and prices. This set of 18 ballades is short, but it includes many of the songs most people who remember this music will want. Listeners wanting more can move to a larger set. The quality of this form of music was uneven, on the whole. There is something to be said for staying with the highlights.

All the songs in this collection are performed by male groups with only the Skyliners ("Since I don't have you") having a female singer in the ensemble. Both African American groups and white groups sung do wop, with some groups, such as the Crests, ("16 Candles") and the Del Vikings (not included on this CD) taking a commendable early role in integration. The earliest song on this CD, "Gloria" by the Cadillacs was released in September, 1954 while the latest song, the Blue Jay's "Lover's Island" dates from August, 1961.

Many of the songs on this CD I have known a long time, since their initial release. Other songs I came across only over the years. Some of the songs I don't remember hearing before. So too, as with any music, many of these songs still move me to tears while others just pass me by cold. My short list of songs would include, the following six famous tracks which are frequently listed as showing doo-wop at its best.

In the Still of the Night -- The Five Satins, 1956

Oh What a Night -- The Dells, 1956

Earth Angel -- The Penguins, 1954

I only have Eyes for You, The Flamingos, 1959

Daddy's Home, Shep and the Limelites, 1961

Goodnight, Sweetheart, Goodnight, The Spaniels, 1954

It pains me to limit the list to six. Several other songs are as good, or nearly so:

Where or When -- Dion and the Belmonts, 1959

Since I don't have you -- The Skyliners, 1959

My True Story, The Jive Five, 1961

Glory of Love, The Velvetones, 1957

Sincerely, The Moonglows, 1954

16 Candles, The Crests, 1958

Tear Drops, Lee Andrews and the Hearts, 1957

Been so Long, The Pastels, 1957

A Thousand Miles Away, The Heartbeats, 1956 (predecessor to "Daddy's Home", above)

This is slow sad music of love and loss and close dancing with wailing led voices, low growling basses and high falsettos in the background, with close, intimate harmony. Bill Leibowitz wrote the unusually good liner notes for this release. Most of my music over the years has been classical, but there is no need for embarassment in loving and hearing these songs of young innocence.

Robin Friedman

I grew up during the 40's and 50's. I saw a great many doo wop artists and the oldies at the State Theater in Hartford Connecticut, and mostly for under a dollar.

This is a great album.

I am a retired Hartford CT Fire Captain, the author of the 1969 essay "What is a Fire Fighter?". And I and play rare Doo Wop and oldies at [...]

No dout about it...Doo Wop was and is still the coolest! Guys can dig it and still be macho...and yet, it melts the hearts of ladies.

These balads were recorded nearly 50 years ago, and yet they sound like they could have been recorded yesterday! I nearly fell out of my chair when I heard the Flamingos 'I Only Have Eyes For You' in full (((STEREO)))...We're talking the original version here!

The packaging and liner notes are top-notch! This is a must have for any collection. While you're at it, why not grab its companion entitled 'Best of Doo Wop Uptempo'. Like this CD, the audio quality is stunning with several (((STEREO))) surprises!

With oldies radio stations disappearing and record companies issuing fewer oldies compilations, it's wise to grab these while they are still available.

You're not going to want to hear this everyday, but this is prime catalogue stuff you'll want to have around for listens whenever you are in the mood for some doowop balladry. Separate it from its overplayed familiarity on radio, and you have distinct artistry that won't ever be duplicated. There is some genius here.

I throughly enjoyed this CD. I am so glad I decided to purchase it. But how could I turn it down with some of my favorites on it ,like Jimmy Beaumont and The Skyliners, The Moonglows, The Flamingos and The Spaniels? I highly recommend it.